Flash lamp



L. z. FERNNDEZ.

FLASH LAMP.

APPLICATrON FILED AUG.9l 192|.

1,406,832. Pmtd Feb. 14, 1922,.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. z. FERNNDEZ.

FLASH LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG|9| 1921.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS Z. FERNNDEZ, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

FLASH LAMP.

Application lefl August 9, 1921.

To all fur/rom t 'muy conce/"m Be it known that l, Louis Z. FERNNDEZ, a citizen ot Mexico, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useitul Improvements in Flash Lamps; and l do hereby declare the following te be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. j

This invention relates to flashlights for use in connection with photography.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a flashlight apparatus of such construction and character that operation of the shutter actuating apparatus or' the camera will cause the flashlight powder or explosive to be ignited, whereby proper timing of both the camera shutter and flashlight apparatus is accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to provide flashlight apparat-us of such character that it may be used in connection with various types ot cameras successfully, and necessitating but minor changes in the ope-rative mechanism for the camera shutter to render-.the flashlight apparatus applicable thereto.

A further object oi the invention is to provide iashlight apparatus of such construction that in operating the same danger of premature explosion is obviated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flashlight apparatus as above characterized rand for the purposes set forth which is of suchconstruction that predetermined quantities only o'l the explosive powder is delivered to the point of ignition.

Further and particular objects are to provide a device .of the character stated and for the purposes speciiied which shall be of comparatively simple construction7 easy and positive oi operation, which is composed ot but few simple and readily assembled parts, the various parts being so constructed and arranged as to minimize the opportunity for wear or derangement, and which will prove thoroughly practical and efficient inuse.

"With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of ther features of construction, combination and arrangement ot parts, hereinafter 'fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accomf panying drawing, in which Figure 1y is a front elevation o'l flash- Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

sei-iai No. 490,950.

light apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same in inoperative position,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the device as shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a. verticaltransverse sectional view taken through the improved flashlight apparatus with the parts in the position in Figure 1, Y

Figure 4t is a detail view talren longitudinally through the tray of 'the flashlight apparatus and illustrating the igniter in operative position,

Figure is a vertical sectional view taken through the charging tube,

Figure 6 is a detail view taken through the tube supply container and illustrating the manner in which the explosive powder is ted to the tube, and

Figure 'T is a. view similar to Figure G and showing the charging valve in the act ot' delivering a charge oil? powder to the coni veyor.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, 'lO indicates the flashlight board or dei'lector, which is supported upon a standard indicated generally at 11, the said standard in the present instance including a base 12 and telescopic sections 13, the latter permitting of vertical adjustment of the board. The sections of the tubular standard are maintained in the desired position ot adjustment by means ol the set screws indicated at l-l.

rThe board or detlector 10 may be made ot any suitable material and may be ot any desired size, and is provided upon its orward tace with a tray 15 Y.l'ormed prefer; bly ol? metal, the said tray extending transversely across the board 10 intermediate the ends ot the latter and having its edges upturned as at 16. The lower face of tray 15 is provided with a downwardly extend ing stud for engagement within the internal threaded upper end of the uppermost of telescopic sections 13.

rllhe apparatus used in connection with the above described board and stand includes a tube 17 arranged at the rear o1 the standard and in spaced parallel relation preferably to the standard 11, being supported by the latter through the instrumentality of brackets 1S carried by one of the standard sections and projecting outwardly therefrom. Set screws 19 in the said brackets hold the tube 17 in proper lli position within the bracltets. The upper end of tube 17 curves forwardly as at 2O toward the board onscreen 10, and the. extremity oli this curved portion protrudes through a suitable openingin the said board, shown. This forwardly projecting extremity of the tube is closed by a cap 21, the latter being held normally over the end ot the tube by a. spring 2Q.

Communicating with tube 17 near the lower end thereof a delivery tube constituting a short tubular section indicated at 23. This delivery tube inclines downwardly toward its `iuncture with tube 17, and the outer end of tube Q3 is designed to receive the end of al flask or container Q1 ot cxplosive powder, such as that commonly used in flashlight photography. The container 24 may comprise a bottle having a threaded neel: to threadedly engage and snugly lit within the end of the delivery tube 23, thus enabling the container to be readily applied and removed from the delivery tube.

The tube 23 is provided with a valve operable so as to permit only predetermined quantities ot the explosive powder to be delivered to tube 17. This valve includes a pair or" plates 2a and arranged in spaced parallel relation and movable as a unit, the said plates passing through suitable openings provided in the delivery tube 2B. The plate Q5 is relatively short and when moved to its proper upward position is withdrawn from the passage in the delivery tube 23. The plate 24C is considerably longer than plate 25, and is provided with an opening 26 adapted, when the plate isy lowered properly, to aline with the passage ot tube 23. The construction and operation ol: the valve is such that when raised, the powder within the tube Q3 will be prevented from flowing into tube 17 by the lower portion ot plate 24, such plate portion obstructing the passage of the powder. llllien, however, the valve is lowered, plate will pass across the tube in the rear ot plate 2l, obstructing' powder in the rear oli the said plate, while the opening :26 will move into register with the interior part ot the tube and the powder contained between plates 241: and will be allowed to pass from tube portion 23 into the main tube 17. The quantity of powder contained between plates Q-it and 25 will be sutticient to constitute a proper charge. The valve is held normally in raised position by a contractile spring 27, the said spring being connected at one end with the valve and at its other end with a hook or stud 28 on tube 17.

The means for conveying the charges of explosive powder to the tray or pan 15 includes a cup having its upper open end ol substantially the same diameterI as the interior ot tube 17, and this cup is connected to a dist: or plate il@ ot equal diameter with the interior of the tube. A flexible meniber such as a spring 30 connects the cup and disk with the upper end ol an operating rod 31, the lower end of: the said rod passing out through the restricted lower end of tube 17 and being provided with a hand grip The lower end of plate 9A of the valve is provided with an offset linger 323 which extends to the interior ot' tube 17 through a slot 34 therein, and lies in the path of disk 29. Then the rod 31 is pulled to its lowest limit, disk 29 will engage linger and move the same downwardly, so as to operate the valve to discharge a quantity ot the explosive powder into the tube 17, and as this operation otl the valve is not completed until cup 28 is bclow the juncture of tube portion with tube 17, the powder discharged by the valve will gravitate into the cup Q8. After this opera-- tion has taken place, the rod 31 is moved upwardly, the cup 28 at the upper end thereot' carrying its charge of powder up tube 17 and around the cur-ved portion 2l), this passage around the curved portion being permitted by reason ot the flexible connection between the cup and the rod proper. lVhen the cup has become inverted and at the free end ot' the curved portion ot tube 20, the valve or cap 21, either by reason ot the weight of the powder which has been deposited thereon lrom cup 28, or by means ot pressure of cup 2S against the same, will open, and the charge of powder will be deposited upon tray 15. As soon as the powder has passed from the tube end, spring Q2 will move cap 21 back to closed position'.

The means for igniting the explosive powder thus deposited upon tray 15 may be described as including a. tubular arm Z155, having an angularly disposed end 3G, and being secured preferably at the juncture ot' the angular end with the main portion ol: the tube to a rod 37 disposed transversely ol tray l5 at one end thereof and mounted in suitable bearings in the flanges 16 of the said tray. The tubular arm carries a tant; or con taiuer 38 lor-an intlau'nnable liquid; such as gasoline, and a wick contained within the.

-arin and angularly bent portion protriules The arm is so beyond the end of the latter. balanced that the tank end thereolf is normally lowered, so that the free cnd or angular extension 3G lies within a snuffel' indicated at 39. This snuller is secured to the forward face of board 10, and it is apparent that any llame at the end of the angular arm will be extinguished when the said end passes into the snulfer.

It will be understood that when the tank end ot arm 35 is elevated, the said arm roeki.

l lo

above described. Within the ignited end of the torch, sparking points 39 are arranged upon the forward face of board l() and in the path of travel of the wirk end of arm portion 36. lt is obvious, there'lore, that as the end of the arm wipes across these spark ing points, the spark then set up will ignite the torch. kThe sparking points are supplied with electric energy from a. source such as the storage or cell batteries 40 located within base l2 of the standard, and wires 4l leading therefrom connect with the sparking points. If desired, a switch such as shown at 42 may be provided in the circuit so that the latter may be opened or closed as desired.

IThat end of tray 15 which supports the torch member is provided with a downwardly extending portion 43, upon which is secured an air pump 44 of conventional form, and which not only governs the movements of the torch member but also opens or closes the switch 42. This pump contains a piston (not shown) to which is secured the lower end of a piston rod 45, the latter being pivoted at its upper end to the rear end of a rock lever 46. Rock lever 46 is mounted upon a standard 47 carried by tray l5, and the forward end of the same carries a roller 48 resting upon a plate 49 secured to pintle rod 37 of the torch member. The piston rod, 45 carries an arm 50 constituting a con trol arm for switch 42. The pump 44 receives air from a flexible tube 5l connected with the shutter operating bulb of the camera (not shown).

In operation, the standard carrying the board l() and its discharge apparatus is positioned in proper relation to the subject to be photographed. The air pump 44 is connected with the actuating mechanism of the camera shutter. ln the present instance, the invention is described for use in connection with bulb actuated shutters, but it will be understood, of course, that the piston rod 45 may be caused to be moved by other shnt ter operating means. The photographer pulls down upon rod 31 until the cup a t the upper end thereof has received its charge, whereupon the rod is moved upwardly so as to deposit the charge upon tray l5. YWhen the shutter operating bulb is pressed, the camera shutter will not only be caused to open but the piston within the pump cylinder 44 will be raised, causing piston rod 45 to move upwardly, closing t-he circuit through the sparking mechanism, and causing the roller 48 to press down upon the inclined plate 49 secured to the flexible rod 37 of the torch apparatus. This causes the wick end of arm 36 to move out ofthe snuifer and to brush across the sparking points, thus becoming ignited, and further downward swinging movement of the arm 36, caused by continued movement of rock lever 46. will cause the ignited torch to light or set oft the charge of powder upon the tray l5. TWhen the bulb of the camera has been released, the unbalanced member will swing back to normal or inoperative position, causing the torch to become extinguished, and the circuit through the sparking apparatus will be broken.

lVhile the above is a description of the invention in its preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various changes in the minor details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim:

l. in a flashlight apparatus, in combination with the shutter acuating mechanism of acamera, a holder for an inflammable charge, a torch, sparking points to ignite the torch, and means operated upon actuation of the shutter operating mechanism for energizing the sparking points and for moving said torch into contact with said inflammable charge.

2. In a flashlight apparatus, a holder for an inflammable charge, a torch movable to ward and away from said charge, sparking points in the path of said torch, and means for moving` said torch in one direction and for simultaneously closing a circuit through said sparking points.

3. In a flashlight apparatus, a tray adapted to hold an inflammable charge, a pintle carried by said tray, a torch secured to said pintle, a snuifer to limit the movement of said torch in one direction, an air pump, and a roel; lever operable by said pump for rocking said torch upon its pintle in one direction.

4. ln a flashlight apparatus, a board, a tray secured to one face of said board and adapted to hold an inflammable charge, a pintle carried by said tray, a tubular arm secured to said pintle, a source of fuel supply carried by said arm, a torchconnected to .said arm, sparking points in the path of movement of said torch, an air pump, a lever governed by the movement of said air pump for moving said torch toward said inflammable charge, a switch in the circuit of said sparking points, and an arm governed by operation of said pump for closing or opening` said circuit.

5. in a flashlight apparatus, a charging tube, a rod movable in said tube, a cup carried by said rod, a. source of supply for said tube, and means operable when said cup is disposed below said source of supply for establishing communication between the supply and said tube.

6. ln a flashlight appara-tus, a charging tube, a cup movable within said tube, a-

source supply for said tube, and means governed by the movement of said cup for cstablishii'ig communication between said source of supply and Said tube.

T. ln it flashlight Apparatus, a ehm-ging tube, n Soni-ee of supply toi' said tube, a valve Controlling said source o'f supply, und u cup movable within said tube and governing` the movements of Suid valve.

S. In :t flashlight apparatus, :1 ehaiging tube, u tube Section communicating with the Suid charging tube, a valif'e in said tube poi'- tion governing the quantity ol material to be delivered to said Charging tube, at linger on Said vulve extending,- into said Charging tube, und u cup movable within said ehzirg ing tube and adapted to engage Said linger. S). In a flashlight nppni'ntue, n standard, nv board carried by said standard, a twg', n charging tube Communicating with said tray, means within said charging tube for determining` the quantity ot material to be deposited upon said tray, a. torch swingingly mounted upon Said tray, and means loi' moving Said torch into cont-.iet with mnterial deposited on Said tray from said tube.

In testinflon;v whereof, l affix my signature.

LOUIS Z. FERNNDEZ.. 

